Global Issues Honors Consortium (GIHC)
Welcome!
The Honors Program, with funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, seeks to increase the number of highly qualified and well prepared students of color in graduate and professional programs in fields related to global studies. Honors students from each of the partner schools participate in a carefully coordinated set of activities over two years to prepare them for graduate study with an international focus: a series of collaboratively developed academic seminars offered on their home campuses and linked to the other campuses through ITV and WebCT, an intensive summer workshop at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, a community service learning project and a study abroad experience. Throughout the program, students are provided with intensive mentoring to improve their critical thinking, research and writing skills. Students also learn about the process of researching and applying to graduate and professional school programs - such as preparing for the GRE and writing a personal statement for graduate school application. The program culminates with a capstone seminar in the fall of the second year during which students present the results of the original research and writing project they have developed over the two years.
How does the Program work?
Students selected for the Program must be motivated to complete the Program and consider graduate study, because they will work hard! Registration for and completion of all courses is required of Honors Program students, and students must commit to participating over the two-years of the program. Participation in the summer workshop during the first year is facilitated by the Honors Program covering room and board costs and providing student stipends. A mid-program evaluation of each student will be conducted by Program faculty - passing this evaluation is necessary to continue in the Program. Financial aid is also provided to help cover the cost of the study abroad component of the program. The Honors Program is rigorous and oriented toward global issues, giving students a taste of the graduate school experience in international fields.
What do former participants have to say about the Program?
Students who have participated in previous versions of the Honors Program had the following to say about their experiences:
"The rigorous workload offered a preview into what to expect in graduate school…[T]he program really helped instill the kind of academic discipline…needed to meet the challenge that grad school…provide[s]."
"Being the only one in my family with a four-year college degree, I did not feel like 'graduate school' material. Yet, the [program mentors] assisted and guided me in every step of the process. [They] were instrumental in their encouragement and support of my decision to apply to graduate school.
"If it weren't for this program in actually giving me the actual experience of engaging in grad school prep, I probably would have been disarmed and taken aback by the intensity of research along with academic and personal responsibilities. [This program] will forever be the experience that prepared me for graduate school."